Dnata has announced it has reached an agreement with Aviapartner to acquire its cargo handling operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

As well as full cargo handling operations, this facility includes several specialist product lines including the Schiphol Animal Centre and Temperature Control Centre, as well as its Freighter Ramp Handling operations.

“Our strategy is to offer the highest level of service excellence in each market we operate”, said Stewart Angus, dnata’s divisional senior VP of International Airport Operations. “The Aviapartner operation in Amsterdam certainly fits the bill and will enhance our growing international cargo network”.

Aviapartner’s cargo operations at Amsterdam comprise 44,000 square metres of cargo warehouse space.  It handles 360,000 tonnes of cargo each year, employing 430 staff.

“Amsterdam is a key European cargo hub.  We look forward to working with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to support the continued growth at this important hub” added Angus.

Dnata has significantly expanded its European cargo offering in the past two years.  With the acquisition in Amsterdam, dnata will have more than doubled its footprint from four to ten European stations in the past two years and will now handle over two million tonnes of cargo at 26 airports worldwide.

Completion of the acquisition is subject to competition approval in the Netherlands which is expected by the end of September 2015.